Trampoline roof

ABSTRACT

A trampoline roof ( 10 ) having a resiliently flexible structure and a waterproof shell collectively forming a plurality of radial apexes ( 510 ) and troughs ( 520 ) that are configured to encourage water to run off the roof. The trampoline roof receives upper portions of trampoline poles ( 150 ) therein and shelters the trampoline from the elements.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a roof for a trampoline. In particular, theinvention relates, but is not limited, to a soft roof to cover the topof a trampoline.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Reference to background art herein is not to be construed as anadmission that such art constitutes common general knowledge.

Trampolines have been around for recreational and sporting purposes fora number of years. More recently, particularly in relation torecreational trampolines, safety nets have been incorporated to containa user in a space above the trampoline and to prevent injury from thatuser falling off the trampoline or landing on the frame of thetrampoline.

Many trampolines are left outdoors, so roofs are sometimes provided toprovide shade and to give the feeling of a tent or cubby house.Typically such roofs are substantially flat and not well suited toweathering rain. A known problem is for water to collect on the roof andcreate a pool in the middle. If there is sufficient rain this can damagethe roof as it is unable to support the weight of the water and can ripor tear.

In an effort to overcome these issues some trampoline roofs have rigidsupport members, such as aluminium or fibreglass struts, to support theroof. These roofs are typically dome shaped. However, the hard elementsof the support structure can cause injury to any user who jumps highenough to hit the supports. Furthermore, it has been known for someusers, typically younger children, to try to grab onto the supports whenjumping. This can damage the support structure and can result in injuryto the trampoline user, or even bystanders.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an aim of this invention to provide a trampoline roof whichovercomes or ameliorates one or more of the disadvantages or problemsdescribed above, or which at least provides a useful alternative.

Other preferred objects of the present invention will become apparentfrom the following description.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

In one form, although it need not be the only or indeed the broadestform, there is provided a trampoline roof comprising:

a resiliently flexible support structure comprising a plurality of linemembers; and

a shell that receives at least a portion of the line members;

wherein the shell has a plurality of alternating apexes and troughs.

Preferably the line members are elastic. Preferably the line members aremade of an elastic cord. Preferably the line members are arrangedradially. Preferably the line members meet at or around a central regionof the shell. Preferably the central region of the shell is reinforced.Preferably the line members extend along the apexes of the shell.Preferably the apexes collectively define a plane, preferably asubstantially horizontal plane. Preferably the troughs are inclinedrelative to the apexes.

Preferably the shell is made of a waterproof material. Preferably theshell has sleeves that receive portions, preferably majority portions,of the line members. Preferably the shell has a top and one or moresides. Preferably the sides are substantially perpendicular to the top.Preferably the plurality of apexes and troughs are located in the top.Preferably the line members extend at least a substantial portion of theapexes of the top. The line members may further extend down at least aportion, preferably a reinforced portion, of the sides. Preferably thesides are shaped to define the apexes and troughs of the top. Preferablythe top is formed from a plurality of substantially triangular panels.Preferably an upper peripheral edge of the shell formed between the topand the sides is substantially zigzagged.

Preferably the shell comprises pole receiving portions adapted toreceive poles of a trampoline. Preferably the pole receiving portionsare reinforced. Preferably the pole receiving portions are located insides of the shell. Preferably the pole receiving portions are radiallyaligned with the apexes. Preferably the pole receiving portions comprisea pole connector. Preferably the pole connector removably connects atleast one line member to at least one pole of a trampoline.

In another form, there is provided a trampoline, the trampolinecomprising:

a frame;

a mat supported above at least a portion of the frame via springmembers;

a plurality of poles that extend above the mat and are arranged aroundthe mat; and

a trampoline roof as hereinbefore described;

wherein the trampoline roof is fitted to the poles that extend above themat such that the apexes of the shell align with the poles and such thatthe troughs of the shell are located between the poles.

Preferably the trampoline roof is fitted to the poles by being affixedto the poles via the line members. Preferably the trampoline furthercomprises a safety net that encloses a chamber above the mat. Thetrampoline roof may be integral with the net, but is preferablyseparable. Preferably each radial apex corresponds with a pole.

The spring members are preferably coupled between the frame and the mat,either directly or indirectly. The spring members may be separate fromthe poles, may be affixed to the poles, or may be located in at least aportion of the poles. The spring members may be helical coil springs,but in preferred forms the spring members are resiliently flexiblemembers. The resiliently flexible members may be located entirely abovethe mat.

Further features and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

By way of example only, preferred embodiments of the invention will bedescribed more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanyingfigures, wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a trampoline with a trampolineroof;

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up cross sectional view illustrating thetrampoline roof being attached to a trampoline pole; and

FIG. 3 illustrates a close up cross sectional view illustrating thetrampoline roof being attached to a trampoline pole in a differentmanner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a trampoline 10 having a frame 100, spring members300 in the form of leaf springs supporting a mat 200 above frame 100, asafety net 400 surrounding the mat 200, poles 150 extending above themat 200, and a trampoline roof 500.

The roof 500 has a top 530 and sides 540 which are substantiallyperpendicular to the top 530. The sides 540 surround the perimeter ofthe top 530. The roof 500 is supported by poles 150 and covers the topof the trampoline 10 defining a chamber above the mat 200 and within thesafety net 400.

The roof 500 has a plurality of alternating apexes 510 and troughs 520located in the top 530. The apexes 510 extend radially around the roof500 in a substantially horizontal plane. The troughs 520 extend radiallyaround the roof 500 at an incline to the apexes 510. Each apex 510corresponds to a pole 150, extending substantially perpendicularlybetween opposite poles 150.

Each apex 510 is formed by two substantially triangular pieces of covermaterial at an angle to each other along the apex 510. Each apex 510 isconnected to adjacent apexes via trough 520. The sides 540 are shaped toform the apexes 510 and troughs 520 in the top 530. Particularly, eachside 540 has a bottom edge, two side edges, and a top edge, wherein thetop edge is formed from two inwardly inclined segments forming thetrough 520. The two side edges are higher than the bottom of the trough520 forming the apexes 510. The apexes 510 meet in central region 512 ofroof 500 which, in a preferred form, is reinforced.

Although not apparent from FIG. 1, each apex 510 has a line member inthe form of an elastic cord 550 which supports the apex 510 and preventscollapse of the roof 500. An end of the elastic cord 550 can be seen inFIGS. 2 and 3. The elastic cord 550 is received in a sleeve of a shellportion of the roof 500 and is tensioned between the poles 150 toprovide a supported, yet soft and resiliently flexible, roof 500. Theelastic cords 550 can extend from a respective pole 150 to the centralregion 512 or, alternatively, between two opposed poles 150 via thecentral region 512.

FIG. 2 illustrates an upper portion of a pole 150 where the roof 500 isattached pole 150. The roof 500 is also shown in cross section,revealing the elastic cord 550 surrounded by a shell 502. Preferablyregions of the shell 502 around the pole 150 are reinforced for addedstrength and wear resistance. In the example shown in FIG. 2, theelastic cord 550 of the roof 500 is affixed to a fixing 152 of the pole150. The elastic cord 550 then extends along a sleeve portion of theshell 502 up the pole 150 to an upper end 154 of the pole 150 to thecentral region 512 of the roof 500 (not shown in FIG. 2). Connection ofthe elastic cord 550 to the pole 150 tensions the roof 500 as shown inFIG. 1. Without proper tensioning the roof 500 would collapse and fallin on itself.

FIG. 3 illustrates a different method of attaching the roof 500 to apole 150, which is better for retrofitting to existing poles 150 that donot have the necessary fixing 152 as illustrated in FIG. 2. A poleconnector 560 is provided which is received inside a hollow 156 of pole150. The pole connector 560 has a bias member 562, extending from a polereceiving portion 564, that presses against an inner surface of thehollow 156 of the pole 150 to retain the pole connector 560 therein. Thepole connector 560 also has an elongate arm 566 that extends down theside of pole 150 to provide a fixing 568 below the top of the pole 150.The elastic cord 550 is affixed to the fixing 568 and the roof 500 isconfigured in a similar manner as shown in FIG. 2.

In use, the roof 500 can be applied to new and existing trampolinesproviding a cover that protects the trampoline, and users of thetrampoline, from the elements. To apply the roof 500 it is placed on topof poles 150 and the elastic cords 550 are tensioned between opposedpoles 150 providing a substantially taught horizontal surface of elasticcords 550 extending radially from the central region 512. The shell 502of the roof 500 is supported by the elastic cords 550, with regions ofthe shell 502 adjacent the elastic cords 550 forming apexes 510 andregions between adjacent pairs of elastic cords 550 forming troughs 520.The troughs 520 incline downwards from the central region 512 providinga channel which adapted to convey any water that lands on the roof 500away from the central region to an outer periphery of the roof 500.

Advantageously the roof 500 provides a cover that protects thetrampoline, and any users therein, from the elements, including rain.Any water, e.g. from rain, which lands on the roof 500 is conveyed downtroughs 520 to an outer periphery of the roof 500 under gravity. Thisprevents the roof 500 from collecting or ‘pooling’ water which canotherwise lead to collapse of the roof.

The roof 500 is not only shaped to convey water away, but does sowithout the need for a rigid, or semi-rigid, support structurecomprising aluminium or fibreglass struts, or the like. This not onlyreduces the chance of injury occurring between a user and the supportstructure, but also improves durability as there are no struts to break.Furthermore, it reduces the complexity of the roof, making it easier toinstall, and also significantly reduces costs in manufacturing andtransporting the roofs.

The trampoline illustrated in FIG. 1 is for example only and is not tobe regarded as limiting. The roof can be used with other trampolinedesigns, including trampolines wherein the poles either have springmembers therein (e.g. a resiliently flexible portion) or mounted thereto(e.g. a leaf spring located on the pole above the mat) to support themat via depending support members such as webbing.

In this specification, adjectives such as first and second, left andright, top and bottom, and the like may be used solely to distinguishone element or action from another element or action without necessarilyrequiring or implying any actual such relationship or order. Where thecontext permits, reference to an integer or a component or step (or thelike) is not to be interpreted as being limited to only one of thatinteger, component, or step, but rather could be one or more of thatinteger, component, or step etc.

The above description of various embodiments of the present invention isprovided for purposes of description to one of ordinary skill in therelated art. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit theinvention to a single disclosed embodiment. As mentioned above, numerousalternatives and variations to the present invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art of the above teaching. Accordingly, while somealternative embodiments have been discussed specifically, otherembodiments will be apparent or relatively easily developed by those ofordinary skill in the art. The invention is intended to embrace allalternatives, modifications, and variations of the present inventionthat have been discussed herein, and other embodiments that fall withinthe spirit and scope of the above described invention.

In this specification, the terms ‘comprises’, ‘comprising’, ‘includes’,‘including’, or similar terms are intended to mean a non-exclusiveinclusion, such that a method, system or apparatus that comprises a listof elements does not include those elements solely, but may well includeother elements not listed.

1-28. (canceled)
 29. A trampoline including: a frame; a mat connected tothe frame; a plurality of spaced apart poles extending upwards from theframe about the mat; line members spaced above the mat and extendingbetween respective pairs of opposite poles; and a flexible roof shellsupported above the mat by the line members, the flexible roof shellbeing so made and arranged as to form ridges along the line members andtroughs between the line members.
 30. A trampoline according to claim 29wherein the flexible roof shell has a central region and the linemembers meet at or around the central region and wherein the ridges andtroughs extend radially outwards from the central region.
 31. Atrampoline according to claim 30 wherein the ridges and troughs extendradially outwards from the central region.
 32. A trampoline according toclaim 29 wherein the ridges are substantially horizontal and the troughsdeepen away from the central region.
 33. A trampoline including: aframe; a mat connected to the frame; a plurality of spaced apart polesextending upwards about the mat from the frame; a plurality of linemembers operatively connected to each other and extending radiallyoutwards from a central region above the centre of the mat and betweenthe upper ends of the poles, the plurality of line members beingconnected to respective ones of the poles to keep them taut; and aflexible roof shell supported by the line members, the flexible roofshell being so made and arranged as to form ridges along the linemembers and troughs between the line members, and wherein the flexibleroof shell includes a central region and sleeves extending outwards fromthe central region and the line members extend through the sleeves. 34.A trampoline roof including: a resiliently flexible support structurecomprising a plurality of line members; and a shell that receives atleast a portion of the line members; wherein the shell has a pluralityof alternating apexes and troughs.
 35. The trampoline roof according toclaim 29, wherein the line members are elastic.
 36. The trampoline roofaccording to claim 30, wherein the line members are made of an elasticcord.
 37. The trampoline roof according to claim 34, wherein the linemembers are arranged radially.
 38. The trampoline roof according toclaim 34, wherein the line members meet at or around a central region ofthe shell.
 39. The trampoline roof according to claim 34, wherein theline members extend along the apexes of the shell.
 40. The trampolineroof according to claim 34, wherein the shell has a top and one or moresides.
 41. The trampoline roof according to claim 34, wherein the shellcomprises pole receiving portions adapted to receive poles of atrampoline.
 42. A trampoline, including: a frame; a mat supported aboveat least a portion of the frame via spring members; a plurality of polesthat extend above the mat and are arranged around the mat; and atrampoline roof as hereinbefore described; wherein the trampoline roofis fitted to the poles that extend above the mat such that the apexes ofthe shell align with the poles and such that the troughs of the shellare located between the poles.
 43. The trampoline roof according toclaim 42, wherein the trampoline roof is fitted to the poles by beingaffixed to the poles via the line members.
 44. The trampoline roofaccording to claim 42, wherein the trampoline further comprises a safetynet that encloses a chamber above the mat.
 45. The trampoline roofaccording to claim 44, wherein the trampoline roof is integral with thesafety net.
 46. The trampoline roof according to claim 42, wherein thespring members are resiliently flexible members.
 47. The trampoline roofaccording to claim 42, wherein the shell has a top and one or moresides.
 48. The trampoline roof according to claim 42, wherein the shellcomprises pole receiving portions adapted to receive poles of atrampoline.